What's in a name? Actually, a whole lot. Naming a pet is not much different from naming a child - a name is for life, so it's worth taking the time to choose one wisely. It's also a great way to get the whole family (especially kids) involved in the exciting adventure of adopting a new pet. Here are some things to think about when dreaming up your new best friend's superstar moniker.
Think about what it sounds like
'Kit' sounds like 'sit'; 'Joe' sounds like 'no'; 'Jay' sounds like 'stay'. Avoid your poor little pup getting confused early on by steering away from names that sound like common commands. It'll save you both a lot of trouble in the long run.
It's all about the rhythm
There's a reason why so many dogs are called 'Bessie', 'Rocky', 'Archie' and 'Buddy' - it's because those two-syllable names just roll off the tongue. Pick a name that's going to be easy for you to say - after all, you're going to be saying it a lot.
Choose something with a 'hard' syllable
Let's think about this practically. If you choose a name with 'soft' syllables - 'Smith'; 'Sophie'; 'Ava'; 'Willow' - chances are your dog will be less likely to distinguish their own name from other words and ambient noise. Choose a name with hard, crisp consonants - there's a reason why there are so many dogs called 'Rocky'.
Avoid overly popular names
You don't want to rock up at the dog park only to find out there are three other furry friends called 'Jessie' in the vicinity. Do a bit of research to avoid ending up with an overly common dog name. It'll save you a lot of trouble getting into awkward situations while taking the dog for a walk. Moreover, don't you want to choose a name that means something to you? A personalised name can be a lot more memorable and will stick with you and the family for life.
